simmonds



Jan. 24, 1956 w. w. SIMMONDS 2,731,892

ROAD WORKING AND DITCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVEgVTOR. f/a me I44 .f/wxrzmda A7701? EX Jan. 24, 1956 w. w. SIMMONDS ROAD WORKING AND DITCHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1952 A 'I/IIIlII/II.

INIfENTOR. V/ay/Ye kl! 5077070003 United States Patent Ofi 2,731,892 Patented Jan. 24, 1956 ice 2,731,892 ROAD WORKING AYD DITCHING MACHINE Application August 20, 1952, Serial No. 305,349 4 Claims. (Cl. 9449) This invention relates to power hammers of the type generally used for breaking concrete slabs or other relatively hard road surfaces or for tamping earth fills, digging trenches, and other like tasks.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a reciprocating hammer suitable for the above purposes which is powered by a unique combination of hydraulic and pneumatic forces, and which, as a result, has a greatly improved operational efiiciency.

It is another object of the invention to provide a power hammer mounted upon a traveling carriage which can be driven to the site of operations and maneuvered with relative ease while the hammer is being used. In this connection, it is a further object to provide a unique means for mounting the hammer on the carriage so that the hammer may be adjusted from side to side with respect to the normal path of travel of the carriage and yet maintained in an upright position. Means are also provided for to any desired position independent of the disposition of the carriage. primary advantage in situations where the carriage is resting on uneven terrain or on inclined surfaces.

Still another object is to provide a frame which can be mounted on a conventional tractor to convert the tractor into a suitable carriage for the hammer, the parts of the frame also serving as reservoirs for storing the hydraulic pumps on the frame which can be driven concurrently from the power take-oil. unit of the tractor.

Other and further objects, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith,

- andin which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the various views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of my invention, the outer wheels being broken away for purposes of illustration; 1

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the hammer mechanism and support frame, the tractor not being shown;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 33of Fig. l in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the hammer cylinder and vertical adjustment cylinder; and

hydraulic system for the vertical adjustment cylinder.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularlypto Fig.

1, the hammer mechanism, generally indicated at 10, is

This finds basic construction of the frame is shown schematically in Fig. 6, and consists principally of two elongated side members 12 and 13 (in the form of hollow, cylindrical tubes) which are joined to one another fore and aft of the tractor by cross-members 14, 15, and 16 to provide a rigid, unitary structure. These cross-members are also hollow, cylindrical tubes, and communicate with the side members to form a continuous, air-tight cell which, as will be hereinafter shown, is partitioned and utilized as storage tanks for both the hydraulic fluid and the compressed air used to operate the hammer. v

The side members 12 and 13 are disposed on opposite I sides of the tractor 11 inside the rear wheels 17 and as main axle 26 through king shown clearly in Fig. 1, are hung from the rear tractor axle 18 by means of an upper clamping bar 19 resting on top of the axle and connected with the frarne member 13 by bolts 20. The bolts 20 are carried by a bar 21 welded or otherwise affixed to the top of the frame member 13 and bearing against the underside of the axle. It will be understood that while in Fig. 1 only one side of the unit is shown, the method of attachment just described is the same on both sides.

The second point of attachment of the frame with the tractor is located just rearward of the nose of the latter, and, as in the case of the rear mounting, suitable construction. The preferred form I have adopted is to weld support brackets 22 to side members 12 and 13, and attach these brackets by bolts or otherwise to the downwardly extending legs 23 of the axle on which the wheels of the tractor are normally mounted.

To replace the front wheels of the tractor and support the unit at its forward end are two wheels 24 mounted on pin axles 25 which in turn are secured to the ends of a pins 27. Axle 26 is centrally pinned to the forward cross tube 16 by means of a pin 28. A plate 29 (see Fig. 3) spans the side members 12 and 13 intermediate the axle 26 and the cross tube 16, being welded or otherwise secured at its ends to the side members. This plate serves as additional support for pin 28, which passes therethrough, and also as a bearing plate against which the axle 26 will rub when the unit is passing over rough ground.

connected with wheels 24 through suitable extensions to unit by operation of the tractor steering wheel 31.

The forward part of the frame ahead of the nose of, the tractor 12 is provided with a flat deck 32 which rests the side members 12 and 13 and platform and within easy reaching distance of the seat is a bank of valves, generally indicated at V, through which numerals play a part in the positioning and operation of maining valves are connected with other ders, for example, such as that seen at 11' hydraulic cylin in Fig. 1', which 34 secured to the lower end of a piston shaft 35 which, reciprocated in a cylinder 36 34 to deliver a series of imin operation, is vertically to cause the hammer head may be of any While not shown in detail, the tractorv provide directional control of the the hammer mechanism 10; the recontrol over the steering mechanisnr ceive d in vertically-spaced guide members cylinder 47 is rigidly affixed r 59, the exception referred to above,

pacts to the surface being worked. A guide rod 37 is spaced laterally frornthe hammer piston 35 and extends upwardly alongside cylinder 36 where it is slidably re- The lower end of guide rod 37 is rigidly secured to a plate 3:? which intu'rn is secured to p ston 35 and hammer head 34 by bolts 4%; thusit reciprocates with'the piston and serves to maintain the latter in proper alignment with cylinder 36. I r l 7 It will be seen from Figs. 1, 4 and that the hamme' cylinder 36 is not rigidly attached to the supporting struc ture rilsing'trom the front of the frame, but is carried inside a coaxial cylindrical sleeve 41 ,whichis supported in an upright position by laterally projecting brackets 42 welded to its lower end and a tWD-Part diagonal brace member '43 connected to an ear 44 afiuied to its upper nd. Brace 43 and brackets 4.2 are a he to th pp site ends of a horigccnt'alv spindle 45 whicl1 is carried at the upper end oi a post unit dfi m'ounted on the frame, and the hammer isthus normally stabilized in an upright P s t on- Referring now mcre arncularly tinned alongside e v 4.1 ndv paralleling the mmer cylinder 35 is a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 47 through which vertical adjustment of the hammer cylinder with respect to sleeve 41 may be obtained. Theadjusting to sleeve 41, preferably by means ofupper and lower collars designated respectively at 48 and 49, and slidably received therein is a piston head 50 from which extends a piston shaft 51., .Shaft51 extends through the lower end of cylinder 47-through a pressure-tight packing 52, and is provided at its lower end with a flattened portion 51a bolted at 53 to an ear 54 extendinglaterallyfrom and secured to the lower end of the hammer cylinder 36. Hydraulic lines 55 and 56 com-' municate respectively with the interior of adjusting cylinder 41 above and below the piston 50, and fluid'for actuating the piston head is supplied from the standard hydraulic pump unit 57 (Fig. 6) of the tractor 12 through a conventional four-way valve 58-. cylinder 36 downwardly with respect to sleeve 41, valve, 53. is positioned to introduce fluid above the piston 50 through line 55 and allow withdrawal through line 56;

to'Figs. 5 and 6, posi To shift the hammer Positioned to one side of post unit 46 and serving as an adjustable link by whiclffthe post maybe inclined to either side of the vertical is another double-acting hydraulic cylinder 65 (Fig. 2). connected at its lower end with a bracket 66 welded or otherwise secured to the deck 32, and the pistonshaft 65a emerging from the upper end of the cylinderis hingedly connected with a horizontal sleeve 67 welded to the top of a post to form therewith the post unit 46. As shown in Fig. 4, the pivotal connection of the piston shaft 66 with sleeve 67 is by means of a pin 68 carried between two legs 69 secured to the side of the sleeve, t will be understood that hydraulic cylinder 65' is similar in construction to the vertical hammer adjustment cylinder 47, hydraulic lines 70 and 71 being provided for supplying fluid on either side of the piston under control of a'four-way valve 72 locatedin the ralve banli V previously described. To 't in ainthchamimr mechanism 16 in a verti al position with respect'tothe ground ,plane uplon sidewise' swinging of post 4 6, and also to provide an independent means for inclining the line of impact of the hammer, I havedevcloped the following arrangement. As herein before noted, the vertical sleeve 41 within, whichthe mer cylinder 36 islcarried isconnected directly to horizontal spindle rotatably supported at the top oi .post unit 46 in sleeve ,67. As will be particularly noted from Fig 4, the spaced parallel btacketsdZ extending laterally from the hammer carrying sleeve 41 provide the primary connection to the spindle 45, the brackets 4 2 lying on opposite sides of theispindle and being pivotally pinned thereto by a pin73. Spindle 45 extends through its sleeve 67, and affixed to the other end is a laterally extending arm 74. As may best be seen in Fig. 2, the outer end of arm 74 is pivbtally connectedat 75 with a yoke To catried at the upper end of a reciprocable I der 7%. Cylinder 78 is identical in construction to those conye'rsely, upward shifting of'the hammer cylinder 36 is accomplished by reversing the hydraulic flow, fluid entering through line 56 and withdrawn through line 55.

It will be understood that valve 58 is located in the valve bank V (Fig. 3). All of the remaining valves in the bank, with the exception of valve 59,:1re similar fourway valves connected by means'of'a common manifold to the same hydraulic pump unit 57 installed as standard equipment in most conventionaltractors, and the return lines are likewise connected to a single receiver R, as is schematicallyshown for the cylinderi in Fig. 6 Valve operates the hammer mechanism proper, and forms a part of a hydraulic-pneumatic system which is completely independent of that just described and which will be discussed more fully herein.-

after. 7

The entire hammer mechanism 10 is carried at the, top of the upwardly extending hollow post unit 46 which is pivoted, as shown in Fig. line with the path of travel of the tractor. The pivotal support for the post unit '46 comprises an elongated pivot pin 60 supported at its ends in'brackets 61 and62, these being attached respectively. to the deck 32 and the crossbrace 29 spanning the, front of the frame. The post unit 46 is mounted on pin 60 by means of an elongate tube 63 'which rotatably fits with pin 69 and has a length substanand 62.

tially equal to the spacing between brackets 61 Tube 63 is secured atits forward end to the lower end of post unit 46, preferably by welding, and a diagonal brace 64 extends from the rearward end of the tube to the upper end of the post unit to give the structure additional strength.

2, about an axis substantially, in.

previously described, having hydraulic lines 79 and 8% for controlling the displacementof the piston shaft 77 in either direction through the operation of. valve 81 (Fig. 3). The lower end of the, cylinder 78 is pivotally connected as at 82 with a bracket8 3 rigidly aulted to the deck 32 by any suitable means, preferably welding.

ltwill be'understood th t with valve 81 set in a'neutral position, piston shaft 77 is immobilized within cylinder 78, and thus the shaft and cylinder in this condition'scrve as a rigid, articulating link serving to .mai11tain hehamr mer mechanism 10 in a relatively vertical position despite pivoting of the post 46 in either direction. 'lfhis. can'bebest appreciated'by referring to Fig, 2, wherein the hammer mechanism 10 is s hown '73 forms one side of an articulatedparallelogram linkage which has for its opposite side the pivotal post 46, the

remaining ,sides'beine defined by 74 andthedeck" 32. As the post unit4 6 is shifted, the arm 74 is.main-- tive disposition of the hammer mechanism 10 with re-. 7

On the other hand, it will be spect to the ground planeobvious that under the control of cylinder 78, thelhammer mechanism 10 can be rotated about the axis of the spindle 45 independentlyof the shifting of the post unit .46. The particular advantages of this latter feature will be made clear presently.

to provide'a pressure-tight seal, and a fluid inlet line'86 Turning now to aidetailed description of the construc tion and mode of operation of the hammer mechanism 10, and. referring particularly to Figs j and 6, [the hammer piston shaft, 35 is aflixed at its upper end to a piston, 84 carried inside the hammer cylinder 16, nannularpacl n 85 S rr und Shaft .35 atthe'lcwer end. of cylinder communicates with the annular space thus formed be Cylinder is pivotally r r r V v piston shaft 7"! extending upwardly f rom a double-acting hydraulic cyiin- I in broken lines asshiftedto one side of the centerline of the tractor 1.2. The, cylinder connected into the top 'of cylinder 35 to communicate with' the space above the piston 84. r Y

The hydraulic and pneumatic system supplying the hammer is shown in Fig. 6. Line 86 at the lower end ofcylinder 36 is connected with a three-way valve 59 to which hydraulic fluid, such as oil, is pumped by a conventional pump 88 located at the rear of the tractor. 88 draws the fluid through line 90 as needed, from a reservoir 89 which is formed by the tubular frame member 13. It will be noted that reservoir 89 extends only between cross-members and 16, pressure-tight partitions 91 and 92 being located adjacent the cross-members to form an enclosed compartment wholly within the frame member 13. A return line 93 leads from valve 59 to a secondary reservoir 94 formed by the hollow interior of the hammer-carrying post unit 46, and another line 95 leads from reservoir 94 to the main oil reservoir 89. An air vent 96 is provided near the upper end of the post unit 46, to permit free fluctuation of the fluid level therein, the advantage of which will'be pointed out hereinafter.

Line 87, which is connected into the upper end of the hammer cylinder 36, communicates-at its other end with an air tank 97 formed by the frame side member 12 and the cross-members 14, 15, and 16. Compressed air is supplied to tank 97 by a compressor 98 located at the rear of the tractor adjacent the hydraulic pump 88; as is conventional the compressor preferably has a built-in pressure-controlled valve which serves automatically to maintain the pressure in tank 97 at the desired, value, ap-' proximately 150 p. s. i. Both the compressor and the hydraulic pump are mounted at the rear of the tractor on opposite sides of the conventional power-take-off pulley 99 and are driven by belts 190 connected therewith. In describing the operation of the hammer, it will be assumed that the hammer head 34 has been raised to its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. .1 and 6, and that it is ready for the sharp, downward impact stroke. in this condition, piston 84 is located at the upper limit of its displacement in the hammer cylinder 36, valve 59 having been positioned to supply hydraulic fluid directly from the pump 88 to the line 86 communicating with cylinder 36 below the piston. By virtue of the open communication through line 37, the compressed air in tank 97 exerts pressure on the top of the piston 84 tending to drive the hammer downwardly; however, it will be understood that the pressure of the hydraulic fluid on the underside of the piston is more than suflicient to maintain the hammer in the upraised position.

To produce the hammer blow, valve 59 is turned 90" counterclockwise from its Fig. 6 position, which opens communication between the cylinder 36- and post unit 46 through lines 86 and 93. At the same time, the flow from the pump 88 is also diverted into the return line 93, and accordingly, the pressure inside the cylinder below the piston 84 is completely released.

Under the influence of the air pressure above the piston 8 the shaft now is driven sharply downward at high speed to cause the hammer head 34 to strike the ground The primary reason for providing this intermediate reservoir is to eliminate the flow resistance which would otherwise be encountered should line 86 return directly to the oil reservoir 89 in frame member 13. in other Words, the efliciency of the hammer depends in large measure on the rapidity of the downstroke which can be attained. Any resistance to withdrawal of the fluid from cylinder 36 has the ultimate effect of slowing down the action of the hammer, and obviously, a long return line would, by virtue of the frictional flow resistance therein, serve to. amplify this undesirable effect. By providing an intermediate reservoir such as the interior of post unit 46, the fluid leaving the cylinder 36 is allowed to accumulate therein after traversing the distance represented by lines 86 and 93, and then to flow by gravity is vented to atmosphere at 96, the sole resistance to flow out of cylinder 36 is the frictional resistance in lines 86 and 93 and the relatively small hydrostatic head developed in the post as the fluid accumulates.

To raise the hammer for the next stroke, valve 59 is returned to its Fig. 6 position to direct the flow from pump 88 into the cylinder 36 through line 86. The hydraulic pressure displaces the piston 84 upwardly until its fully raised position is reached and the hammer ready for another impact.

As has been pointed out hereinbefore, through the mounting of the hammer mechanism 10 on the pivotal post 46, the hammer may be swung from side to side during its operation while still maintained substantially vertical. Thus successive impacts can be produced over a relatively great width without disturbing the line of travel of the tractor itself.

It is also possible to mechanism 10 with respect to the ground level or the 46 by actuating the hydraulic cylinder 78 in the manner herein efore described. With this feature, two

in its normally upright position.

adjust the inclination of the hammer tion and unusualadaptability in a fixed path relative a mobile hammer unit having both highly efiicient operato various situations which may be encountered in use. Through the unique method a hydraulic-pneumatic system for operating the hammer independently of the hammer positioning means, a high degree of flexibility in operation, is obtained, makingthe of mounting the hammer on the carriage and providing unit readily adaptable to an infinite variety of tasks which have heretofore required specially designed units not capable of use for more, than onepurpose. My unit is also compact and simple, and. as a result extremely economical to manufacture and maintain in repair.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one 'well adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other" advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subccmbin'ations.

This is contemplated by and is within'the scope of the claims. i

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative andnot'in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, claim:

1. An apparatus mounting, a portable hammer unit on a vehicle having a wheel supported frame and a source of fluid, pressurethereon, said portable hammer unit havinga hammer carrying structure and mechanism for effecting up and down movement of said hammer to the hammer carrying structure; a post unit having an upright post and a sleeve thereon, means pivotally mounting swinging movement of the post from side to side','said sleeve being horizontally'arranged and fixed adjacent the upper end of the post with the axis of said sleeve substantially parallel to the pivotal axis of the post, a spindle rotatably mounted in said sleeve, means pivotally mounting the hammer carrying structure on the spindle for swinging movement of saidistructure about a substantially horizontal'axis arranged transversely to the axisof the sleeve, brace means having one end connected to the hammer carrying structure and the other end-to the spindle for retaining the hammer carrying structure in operative position and at fixed angularity relative to the axis of the spindle, extensible means operated by fluid pressure and having one'end pivotally connected to the post unit and'the other end pivotally connected to the frame for swinging thepost unit about the axis of the pivotal rnounting thereof, and second extensible means operated by fluid pressure havi lg one end pivotally con,- nected to the frame and the other end pivotally connected to the spindle for swinging movement of the hammer carrying structure about the axisot the sleeve whereby operation of the first named extensible means and sec ond named extensible means eifect bodily movementot the hammer carrying structure and tilting of the hammer carrying structure. H t it 7 t 2. An apparatus mounting a portablehammertunit on the post on the frame for I nected to the spindle a vehicle having a wheel supported frame and a source of fluid pressure thereon, ing a hammer carrying structure and mechanism for effecting up and down movement 'of said hammer in a fixed path relative to said hammer carrying structure;

a post unit having an upright post and, a sleeve thereon,

means pivotally mounting the post on the-frame for swinging movement of the postirom side to side about an axis extending substantiallylongitudinally of the vehicle, said sleeve being horizontally arranged and fixed to the'upper, the axis of said sleeve longitudinally end of the post with of the vehicle, a spindle rotatably mounted insaid sleeve,

means mounting the I hamm r lc ryins,;. struc urc ion the spindle, extensible means operated by fluid pressure and said portable hammer unitthav- '1 pivotally connected to ond named extensible means effect bodily movement of the hammer carrying structure laterally of the vehicle and tilting 0f the hammer carrying structure laterally of the vehicle, Qt, r r t apparat s. mounting aportablc hammer unit on a vehicle hav ga wheel supported frame and a source of fluid pressurethereon, saidportable hammerunit having a hammer carrying structure andmechanisrn for eticcti g upvan td wn movem n of said hammer in a fixed path relative to the hammer carrying structure; a post unit having an upright post, means. pivotally mount ing the post adjacent: one end ofthe frame. for swinging movement of the post from side to side about an axis extending substantially longitudinally ofthe vehicle a spindle mountedat the .upper portion of the post for rotation about an, axis. extending longitudinally of the vehicle, means pivotally mounting the hammer. carrying structure'on one end of, the spindle for swinging movement of said structure about a substantially horizontal axis arranged transversely of the vehicle, brace means having one end connected to the hammer carrying structure and the. other end to the spindle for retaining the hammer carrying structure fixed angularity relative to the axis of the spindle, ex tensible means operated by fluid pressure and having one end pivotally, connected to the post unit and the other end pivotally connected to the frame for swinging the post unit laterally of the vehicle, and secondextensible means operated by fluid pressure having one end pivotally connected to the frameand the other end pivotally confor swinging movement of the hammer carrying structure aboutethe axis of the spindle whereby operation or the first namedextensible means and second named extensible means effect bodily movement of the hammer carrying structure laterally of the vehicle and tilting of thehammer carrying structure laterally of the vehicle respectively. 7 v

4. An apparatus mounting a portable hammer unit on a vehicle having a wheel supported frame and a source of fluid pressure thereon, said portable hammer unit having a hammer carrying structure and mechanism 'for effecting up and down movementv of said hammerfin a fixed path relative to the hammer carryingstructure; V a post unit having an upright ,post and a sleeve thereon,

means adjacent the lower end of thepost pivotally mounting same at one end of the frame for swinging movement of the post from'side to sideabout an axis extending substantially longitudinally of the vehicle, said sleeve being horizontally arranged and fixed to the upper end of the post with the axis of said sleeve longitudinally of the vehicle, a spindle rotatably mounted in said sleeve and extending from the ends thereof, means pivotally mounting the hammer carrying structure on one end of the spindle for swinging movement of said structure about a substantially horizontal axis'arranged transversely of the vehicle brace means'having one end connected to the hammer carrying structure and the" other end to the spindle for retaining the hammer, carrying structure in operative position and at'fixed angular relation to the 7 axis of the spindle, extensible means operated byfiuid' pressure and having one end pivotally connected to the post unit and'the other end pivotally connectedto the frame in spaced relation to the post unit for. swinging the post unit laterally of the vehicle, and second extensible means operated bytfluid pressure having one end the frame in spaced relation to the post unit and the other end pivotally connected to connected to the frame for swinginoperative position and at V 7 2,731,892 9 10 the spindle for swinging movement of the hammer carry- 1,748,655 Penote Feb. 25, 1930 ing structure about the axis of the sleeve whereby op- 1,822,690 De Leeuw Sept. 8, 1931 eration of the first named extensible means and second 1,830,752 Cornett Nov. 10, 1931 named extensible means effect bodily movement of the 2,079,695 Patterson May 11, 1937 hammer carrying structure laterally of the vehicle and 5 2,209,608 Nye July 30, 1940 tilting of the hammer carrying structure laterally of the 2,283,470 Sturges May 19, 1942 vehicle respectively. 2,334,374 Austin Nov. 16, 1943 2,335,172 Cornett Nov. 23, 1943 References Cited in the file of this patent 557 3 Jarrefl June 19, 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 2,606,078 Brock Aug. 5, 1952 1,714,345 Brennan May 21, 1929 

